However! Months ago, I was watching the news and they were interviewing Arlington, TX singer Mickey Guyton. The Black country music singer gained mainstream exposure in the last year for her hit song, “Black Like Me.” The beautiful ballad afforded her a spotlight in country music that is seldom given to singers with melanated skin. Guyton is determined to keep the barn door open behind her for others proving that she is not just skin folk, but also kinfolk.
In the same interview I watched, she mentioned a handful of other Black artists that also deserve success in the country music world. For the last three months, I’ve been seeking out contemporary country singers that look like me and it’s really not that difficult. I also paid homage to legends Linda Martell and Charley Pride by including them on the playlist. If you like the playlist below, try finding some other Black country artists. If you’re not a fan of country music, I recommend pressing play, because there is a sense of enjoyment when the artist is Black like you. Enjoy!
(All photos are credited to Jeremiah Ariaz. His work is currently being displayed in the Louisiana Trail Riders exhibit in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.)
